Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1887-01-07
Terrible Railroad Accident.

One of the most horrible and heart rend
ing accidents ever chronicled occurred
near Republic, Ohio, at 2 O'Clock Tuesday
morning. At o'clock an eastbound
freight in charge of Conductor Fletcher
pulled out of Titfin. having orders to side
track at the Scipio siding to allow the east
bound express to pass. The night was
bitter cod, and much difficulty was exper-
fenced In keeping up steam in the engine.
Finally, at point ha f mile west of Re
public, the train came to s'andstill, be-
ing unable to move further.
Just here was made the horrible M istake
which resulted in the loss of many ives
and the destruction of thousands of dol
lars worth of property. Although the
conductor must have known that he was
eucroaching dangerous Y near The time of
the express he did not send ont the sign,l
until after his train had come to II sand
still and he found it Impossible to m we
further He then started forward with
the lantern himself. At this point there
is sharp curve. and Conductor File cher
had not proceeded more than the length
of 20 cars when he saw the headlight OF
the approaching express rou ding the
curve not more thaE 40 rods distant, and
running at the lightning speed of 63 miles
per hour Horror stricken with the know
ledge that frightful accident could not
be averted, he flashed his light in The face
of til engineer, Lem Eas man The latter
at the same moment saw the light of the
freight engine, and, giving Wild shrek
Of the whis lie tor brakes, he reversed his
engine and Jumped for his life, crashing
through the window of the cab. carrying
glass and sash with him, and alighted in
a heavy saowdrift. He escaped serious
injury. hi. hurts being confined to slight
wound upon the knee. As he realized
the danger he called to his irsmen, VII
liam Fredericks. to save himself. The lat
ter was engaged in stocking the fire and
raised up moment and hesitated to
glance forward as if to estimate the dan
ger. Phis vas iaral as at that instant
the crash came, and poor FFe,!ericss was
pinned and crushe by the mass OF the
wreck
In less than FIVE minutes from the mo-
ment of the collision, and before any or
ganiZed effort at rescue could he made, the
fire of the overturned stoves communicat-
ed 10 the woodwork. and the flames leap
ed high in the air. their roar mingtng
with the cries of anguish OF The imprlson
ed victims, To whom death in IT. mos ter
rlbie form was a horrid presence. Bag
gagem4ster Gates was the only man in his
car and he escaped WITH severe bruises
c. p Bradley, of Washington, d. c. was
found hanging from the window OF the
smoker, but his legs were fssf and lie Was
unable to move. There he remainei until
he was burned to death. and bis chsrre' !
remains fell to the ground. back and
shapeless mass. Joseph Pnstlethw ate and
his sons Spencer aged Is. and Heury, aged
II, were 81 ting in the same seat. aud their
charred remains were found in tue ruins
Of The cars. OF the l2 or Is persons who
were ir the smoker at the time OF the &C,
cident but three escaped with their lives.
The damage To the Baltimore and OhIo
railroad from the accident is also very
great.